Charles Dance seems to be having a very good time as an actor these days. After all, he managed to not only get a very important role as Tywin Lannister in the hit HBO series The Crown, as Lord Mountbatten, a member of the Royal Family.
What’s so fascinating is that these two characters, though very similar in some important ways, have enough differences that there’s a good case to be made that each of them is the best role that Charles Dance has ever had.
Lord Mountbatten: He Has More Layers
Though he’s not always the most likable person in the world, it’s still hard not to it that Lord Mountbatten is a man of many layers. Time and again during the third season, he shows different aspects of his personality, at times being kind and comionate and at others more than a little harsh (and sometimes even cruel).
This allows Dance to really show his tremendous range as an actor and the ways in which he can memorably bring a character to life.
Tywin Lannister: He’s More Ruthless
In all of the Seven Kingdoms, there are few people as absolutely ruthless as Tywin Lannister (and, considering how bloody its nobility can be, that’s really saying something). Tywin is the type of person who will never, under any circumstances, let sentimentality get in the way of what he thinks needs to be done.
Time and again, Dance allows the viewer to see this aspect of Tywin’s personality and, while he may not be likable, it’s impossible not to ire him.
Lord Mountbatten: Is Comionate Toward Charles
Charles has the misfortune to almost always be on the receiving end of his family’s intolerance for change. What’s more, most of them are more than a little impatient with him, and that is especially true of his father, who doesn’t seem to have a sentimental bone in his body.
Mountbatten, on the other hand, seems to genuinely care about Charles and his welfare, and he takes the bruised and hurting young Charles under his wing. Dance brings out the sensitivity in Mountbatten’s character, and it makes him more appealing.
Tywin Lannister: Is An Effective Ruler
Ruthless as he can be, there’s also no question that Tywin Lannister is an effective ruler, certainly far more so than most of the other people to sit on the Iron Throne (including his grandson Joffrey).
Through Charles Dance’s performance, the viewer gets the sense that, though he cares about his family a great deal, Tywin also understands that the realm needs a strong ruler, someone who can keep it functioning rather than letting it get bogged down in dysfunction.
Lord Mountbatten: Clearly Cares About The Crown As An Institution
The Crown is, of course, the institution that looms large in the Netflix series. In some ways, it’s more important than anyone who actually wears it, and it governs the actions of almost every character.
As his last note to Charles reveals, Mountbatten takes it as seriously as the Queen herself, and he is very unwilling to let Charles’ doomed romance with Camilla spoil it. The brilliance of Dance’s performance is that he allows the audience to see this care for the institution without seeming like a completely heartless person.
Tywin Lannister: Is Devoutly Loyal To His Family (Even Tyrion, Sometimes)
If Tywin Lannister cares about one thing more than the welfare of the realm, it’s House Lannister. In fact, it’s his loyalty to his house that justifies most of the actions that he takes throughout the series.
This loyalty extends to the various of his family, and he does what he thinks best for them, even though they might not agree with him. This even extends, to an extent, to Tyrion, and Dance allows the viewer to appreciate Tywin’s complicated relationship with his youngest child.
Lord Mountbatten: He Also Takes Philip Under His Wing
Though the series doesn’t show this as much, it’s very clear that Prince Philip sees Mountbatten as something of a father figure, the kind of male influence in his life that he largely lacked growing up. This becomes clear in his tense conversation with Charles after Mountbatten’s assassination.
As he always does, Charles Dance imbues his encounters with Philip with a profound sense of paternal affection, authority, and wisdom, which allows Mountbatten to be something more than a caricature of an older royal.
Tywin Lannister: Isn’t Exactly Amoral, But Close To It
It has to be said that Tywin Lannister straddles the line between amoral and moral quite a lot. This makes sense since, in this world, those who hold onto a moral code are often those that end up dying on the business end of a sword (most notably Ned Stark and Jon Snow).
There’s always something more than a little sinister about Tywin since the viewer doesn’t know what he’s going to do, and Dance repeatedly makes him an appealing character despite (or perhaps because of) his near abandonment of morality.
Lord Mountbatten: His Death Is More Climactic
The first episode of the fourth season of the show is certainly full of lots of important action, and one of the most memorable is the moment when Lord Mountbatten’s boat blows up. This is a truly stunning death for this very important character, and it’s a humbling reminder that even of the Royal Family aren’t immune from assassination.
What’s more, it makes Tywin’s rather ignominious ending look even more demeaning by comparison.
Tywin Lannister: He’s More Cunning
Like the lion that is the emblem of his noble house, Tywin is a cunning man. He knows how to manipulate people to get what he wants, which is how he is able to convince Roose Bolton to change his coat and betray Robb Stark.
Though Dance’s performance makes it clear that he is a hard man and a ruthless one, he also allows the audience to see the subtle mind behind that steely gaze, a shrewd spirit that is always looking for a chance to elevate his family.